SL may request Hotspot and Snicko

Marvin Atapattu said that Sri Lanka may consider asking their board to have Hotspot and Snicko available for use in order to improve the quality of DRS decisions.

Sri Lanka have not made good use of referrals in their home series this year, failing to overturn several not-out calls against South Africa last month, before declining to review a plumb lbw shout off Younis Khan, when the batsman was on 21 on Wednesday. Younis used DRS superbly, surviving the umpire's raised finger twice, to go on to 133 not out by stumps.

"We were coming from a series in England where they had all the tools, but here we're missing at least a couple," Atapattu said. "At the start of the South Africa series it was a bit tough for us to digest that. Some of the things we saw in England, you don't see here.

"Now that we have experienced having DRS with all the tools, we might take it into consideration [to request SLC uses those tools]. In England, there was clear evidence in decisions coming out of that third umpire's box."

The absence of Hotspot was most keenly felt at the SSC against South Africa, when Mahela Jayawardene was given out, despite the fact the ball did not appear to touch glove or bat. Replays, however, did not present enough evidence to conclusively rule him not out, so the third umpire upheld the original decision.

"In times to come I'm sure that the authorities will do certain things to make sure that the decision stays right. We were in a situation like this in the last Test we played against South Africa. That's the way it goes"

Stranded on a far-off island where one day's routine was hardly different from the next, Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe put a cross in the ground and began to make a daily notch, hoping to wrap his mind around the passage of time.

Weeks wound by without change. Months melded into one another. When Crusoe was rescued, he learned that even with his wooden cross, he had not managed to accurately count the days he had spent cut off from civilisation.

On another island, also teeming with palm trees, but with fewer vindictive cannibals, the Sri Lanka attack had another day that seemed just like so many others they have recently endured. Younis Khan was their quick-footed tormentor this time, as he has been on many other occasions. By biding his time, and choosing his moments wisely, he moved to within 60 runs of scoring an unprecedented 2000 Test runs against Sri Lanka.

Patience is the Sri Lanka unit's style, though really, they have arrived at that method by process of elimination. There were hopes Ajantha Mendis would become the sharp end of the attack following Muttiah Muralitharan's retirement. Once opponents unraveled his secrets, what once appeared to be magic now seems like common trickery.

Attacking quicks like Dilhara Fernando did not prove effective enough to be retained. Even aggressive spinners like Suraj Randiv were tried for a while and then cut off, at least for now. The men that remained were those that were willing to run in and tirelessly repeat the same, well-rehearsed routine, just like castaways stuck in a Groundhog Day of toilsome survival.

In the past two series, Sri Lanka had long outings in the field in every match they have played. Bowling first at Lord's they had three down for 74, then four for 120, but ended up conceding 575 for 9. At Headingley, England were five down in 26.2 overs in the second innings, but it would take 90.3 more overs for Sri Lanka to eke out those final five wickets, on a turning fifth-day pitch.

At the SSC, South Africa defied the hosts for 134.5 overs in the first innings, then 111 in the next. Rangana Herath has now completed 517 overs since December 31 of last year. Wednesday must have felt like a day-long déjà vu.

When South Africa had finished on 255 for 5 on another first day at Galle less than a month ago, bowling coach Chaminda Vaas had been upbeat about his attack's returns. Acting head coach Marvan Atapattu reasoned there was little more Sri Lanka could have done against Pakistan as well.

"The match situation has a lot to do with the wicket," Atapattu said. "It settled down, and that's the way it is in Galle. We played two fast bowlers and it doesn't do much after the first session. Slowing the run rate, and making it tough to score is what we can do when you get a wicket like this. If you can do that you can expect a poor shot, so that's our hope."

It is easy to sympathise with Atapattu and Sri Lanka, given the personnel available, but even on such tracks, opposition bowlers have found the means to be truly penetrative. Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel shared 16 wickets on a dry pitch to win that game for South Africa. Those two are nothing less than the best new-ball pair on the planet, but they did help illustrate how the X-factor can transcend conditions and transform a series.

Sri Lanka's wins this year have highlighted Shaminda Eranga and Suranga Lakmal's value, but beyond those two and Rangana Herath, Sri Lanka might do well to find bowlers who are a little more pizzazz and a little less working-class.

Test-quality pace bowlers are thin on the ground, especially when at least one of the two premier quicks has found a way to be unfit in every match since the fast men's demolition of Bangladesh in Dhaka, in January.

But there are options for Sri Lanka in the spin department. Twenty-one-year-old Tharindu Kaushal takes bagfuls with big-turning offspin almost every time he plays, and though he has been in two Test squads, the selectors are worried he does not yet have the control to squeeze opponents opposite Herath.

The time for a shake-up is approaching, however. In Muralitharan, and in Herath for a time, Sri Lanka had men that were at once workhorse and spearhead. But those are not roles that anyone but the supremely gifted can hold for long. Herath bowled two excellent balls to claim his wickets on day one, but if he is to have the workload that he has been saddled with this year, Sri Lanka cannot also expect him to be fresh enough to be a major wicket-taking threat as well.

South Africa had six fewer runs and had lost one more wicket than Pakistan at the end of their first day in Galle. In the end, they batted for most of the second day, hit 455 for 9, and seized control of that Test.

Sri Lanka require wickets while the ball is still new, and while there is still a little help from the pitch. Else, another long day when minutes drag and hours stretch may await them.

Actually SLC will be much more keen on building a new stadium, than using proper DRS.

Sexysteven
on August 7, 2014, 3:21 GMT

Interesting to see what happens today still think if Sri Lanka break this partnership the Pakistani tail is weak and could wrap the tail up fast but if these two survive the 2nd newball and bat for awhile then they should get adecent total interesting game if weather stays ok

amir_nirvana
on August 7, 2014, 2:07 GMT

Andrew is quickly becoming one of my favourite writers. Good job. I am so looking forward to the contest between Pakistan's bowlers and Sri Lanka's batsmen.

nickexplore
on August 7, 2014, 1:46 GMT

Chandimal's caught off the shoulder at Galle vs SA, and Mahela's caught off the arm-guard at SSC vs SA, are two instances where Hotspot and/or Snicko would have offered conclusive proof whether any bat or glove was involved. Instead, we have the ridiculous situation of the third umpire, who can't see what has happened, handing it back to the on-field umpire who sticks with his original call. Marvin Atapattu is right asking SLC for Hotspot and Snicko for future matches, while the ICC needs to review its own flawed DRS.

MarcusPerera
on August 7, 2014, 1:46 GMT

this shows the value of Ajantha Mendis who has a bowling strike rate very close to Herath and who started his test carrier in 2008 herath in 1999

nickexplore
on August 7, 2014, 0:59 GMT

The decision by Mathews not to use the DRS, when he had Younis Khan plumb lbw
when he was on 21, even though Mahela was saying he should, was the key moment in the match. Perhaps with so many unsuccessful reviews over the past month Mathews wanted to hold onto his last referral, but this was clearly the time to use it, and Younis is now on 133 not out and Pakistan well in control.

Marvin Atapattu is right to ask SLC for Hotspot and Snicko, which should have been in be in place for all international cricket matches.

on August 6, 2014, 23:11 GMT

Good article. Re Ajantha Mendis, in the previous Test, while he didn't rise to the occasion he was poorly handled by Mathews and should have had as many overs as Dilruwan. It probably cost Sri Lanka the Test and Series.

on August 6, 2014, 22:18 GMT

If weather does not interrupt we may hv a result. Of lately trend of drawn test matches hv started.Some times even draw is a result as was witnessed in 3rd test between SA and SL

mzm149
on August 6, 2014, 19:33 GMT

Whatever the result of this test is, I hope its anything but a draw. I am tired of watching the batsmen playing whole of last day and scoring at 1.5 runs per over to save the match.

on August 6, 2014, 19:15 GMT

Nice to see younis khan bat but tell u what asad shafiq realy bat well too and is an example for others that u should learn to spend time on wicket runs will come hope PAKISTAN bowling will make us proud too as always

Udendra
on August 7, 2014, 6:29 GMT

Actually SLC will be much more keen on building a new stadium, than using proper DRS.

Sexysteven
on August 7, 2014, 3:21 GMT

Interesting to see what happens today still think if Sri Lanka break this partnership the Pakistani tail is weak and could wrap the tail up fast but if these two survive the 2nd newball and bat for awhile then they should get adecent total interesting game if weather stays ok

amir_nirvana
on August 7, 2014, 2:07 GMT

Andrew is quickly becoming one of my favourite writers. Good job. I am so looking forward to the contest between Pakistan's bowlers and Sri Lanka's batsmen.

nickexplore
on August 7, 2014, 1:46 GMT

Chandimal's caught off the shoulder at Galle vs SA, and Mahela's caught off the arm-guard at SSC vs SA, are two instances where Hotspot and/or Snicko would have offered conclusive proof whether any bat or glove was involved. Instead, we have the ridiculous situation of the third umpire, who can't see what has happened, handing it back to the on-field umpire who sticks with his original call. Marvin Atapattu is right asking SLC for Hotspot and Snicko for future matches, while the ICC needs to review its own flawed DRS.

MarcusPerera
on August 7, 2014, 1:46 GMT

this shows the value of Ajantha Mendis who has a bowling strike rate very close to Herath and who started his test carrier in 2008 herath in 1999

nickexplore
on August 7, 2014, 0:59 GMT

The decision by Mathews not to use the DRS, when he had Younis Khan plumb lbw
when he was on 21, even though Mahela was saying he should, was the key moment in the match. Perhaps with so many unsuccessful reviews over the past month Mathews wanted to hold onto his last referral, but this was clearly the time to use it, and Younis is now on 133 not out and Pakistan well in control.

Marvin Atapattu is right to ask SLC for Hotspot and Snicko, which should have been in be in place for all international cricket matches.

on August 6, 2014, 23:11 GMT

Good article. Re Ajantha Mendis, in the previous Test, while he didn't rise to the occasion he was poorly handled by Mathews and should have had as many overs as Dilruwan. It probably cost Sri Lanka the Test and Series.

on August 6, 2014, 22:18 GMT

If weather does not interrupt we may hv a result. Of lately trend of drawn test matches hv started.Some times even draw is a result as was witnessed in 3rd test between SA and SL

mzm149
on August 6, 2014, 19:33 GMT

Whatever the result of this test is, I hope its anything but a draw. I am tired of watching the batsmen playing whole of last day and scoring at 1.5 runs per over to save the match.

on August 6, 2014, 19:15 GMT

Nice to see younis khan bat but tell u what asad shafiq realy bat well too and is an example for others that u should learn to spend time on wicket runs will come hope PAKISTAN bowling will make us proud too as always

on August 6, 2014, 16:44 GMT

oh yes, we can expect some tidy display from yk in addition to what he did today. he still has that fitness in him to take him further on, but what we have seen lately of him that he tires soon after completing the ton. lets hope he goes bigger now. asad shafiq has taken the "last" chance with both hands. he has now the strong competition from umar akmal. so, asad fails now, and umar will grab it, i think stronger this time!! sri lanka was a bit one sided affair this whole year, too much dependency on 3 people. these wickets, i am sure are made for long innings from mahela and sanga. i can bet!! mahela is going, so at least sl can afford to give him a good send-off. i think both these tests will end up in tame draws. very tame.

No featured comments at the moment.

on August 6, 2014, 16:44 GMT

oh yes, we can expect some tidy display from yk in addition to what he did today. he still has that fitness in him to take him further on, but what we have seen lately of him that he tires soon after completing the ton. lets hope he goes bigger now. asad shafiq has taken the "last" chance with both hands. he has now the strong competition from umar akmal. so, asad fails now, and umar will grab it, i think stronger this time!! sri lanka was a bit one sided affair this whole year, too much dependency on 3 people. these wickets, i am sure are made for long innings from mahela and sanga. i can bet!! mahela is going, so at least sl can afford to give him a good send-off. i think both these tests will end up in tame draws. very tame.

on August 6, 2014, 19:15 GMT

Nice to see younis khan bat but tell u what asad shafiq realy bat well too and is an example for others that u should learn to spend time on wicket runs will come hope PAKISTAN bowling will make us proud too as always

mzm149
on August 6, 2014, 19:33 GMT

Whatever the result of this test is, I hope its anything but a draw. I am tired of watching the batsmen playing whole of last day and scoring at 1.5 runs per over to save the match.

on August 6, 2014, 22:18 GMT

If weather does not interrupt we may hv a result. Of lately trend of drawn test matches hv started.Some times even draw is a result as was witnessed in 3rd test between SA and SL

on August 6, 2014, 23:11 GMT

Good article. Re Ajantha Mendis, in the previous Test, while he didn't rise to the occasion he was poorly handled by Mathews and should have had as many overs as Dilruwan. It probably cost Sri Lanka the Test and Series.

nickexplore
on August 7, 2014, 0:59 GMT

The decision by Mathews not to use the DRS, when he had Younis Khan plumb lbw
when he was on 21, even though Mahela was saying he should, was the key moment in the match. Perhaps with so many unsuccessful reviews over the past month Mathews wanted to hold onto his last referral, but this was clearly the time to use it, and Younis is now on 133 not out and Pakistan well in control.

Marvin Atapattu is right to ask SLC for Hotspot and Snicko, which should have been in be in place for all international cricket matches.

MarcusPerera
on August 7, 2014, 1:46 GMT

this shows the value of Ajantha Mendis who has a bowling strike rate very close to Herath and who started his test carrier in 2008 herath in 1999

nickexplore
on August 7, 2014, 1:46 GMT

Chandimal's caught off the shoulder at Galle vs SA, and Mahela's caught off the arm-guard at SSC vs SA, are two instances where Hotspot and/or Snicko would have offered conclusive proof whether any bat or glove was involved. Instead, we have the ridiculous situation of the third umpire, who can't see what has happened, handing it back to the on-field umpire who sticks with his original call. Marvin Atapattu is right asking SLC for Hotspot and Snicko for future matches, while the ICC needs to review its own flawed DRS.

amir_nirvana
on August 7, 2014, 2:07 GMT

Andrew is quickly becoming one of my favourite writers. Good job. I am so looking forward to the contest between Pakistan's bowlers and Sri Lanka's batsmen.

Sexysteven
on August 7, 2014, 3:21 GMT

Interesting to see what happens today still think if Sri Lanka break this partnership the Pakistani tail is weak and could wrap the tail up fast but if these two survive the 2nd newball and bat for awhile then they should get adecent total interesting game if weather stays ok